Since Jim Wagner has an article on himself in Dutch over on his website, from Mix Fight Magazine, I requested that Lebell, our Dutch member go over and see what sort of claims that Jim makes for himself when he trains people in the land of the Windmills.

Reading Lebell's translations I found no new claims, Jim descibes his experience in English and Dutch in the same way.

Jim Wagner was a civilian custody officer with Costa Mesa PD and was later hired as a full time police officer. He did work field duty and was on the SWAT team. Since I was not a member of SWAT, I do not know what his capacity was with the team. He was responsible for setting up some real life type training for SWAT, one of which I was involved in. I did teach a 18 month course for CMPD SWAT at my studio and 7 of the team members graduated as black belts. Mr. Wagner did not participate in this course. Mr. Wagner was also involved in helping me teach the Citizens Academy during one year. I am not sure why he resigned from full time duty and that is something that you would have to possibly speak to Chief David Snowden about. I know that he did become a Reserve Officer for a short time and then left the department. I heard that he became a reserve officer with the Orange County Sheriff's Department and was assigned to the Dignitary Protection Unit. After he left the OCSD I heard that he became a Sky Marshall but did not stay with that profession for too long of a time.

I think he was involved with a company by the name of Hike Stalk Shoot headed up by a retired officer from Costa Mesa by the name of Dan Erber.

Mr. Wagner was still with the department at the time of my retirement in 1997. I know that he has made numerous video tapes and contributed to articles in Black Belt Magazine. He also had a self defense business on the side in Costa Mesa while he was working with CMPD but later turned it over to his partner.

This is about all that I can tell you about Mr. Wanger. I hope that this helps.

The most important questions will be to find out why he left the Air Marshals, and secondly if he was actually performing SWAT duties as verses working in the command center.

Ask him 1) To prove that he graduated the required SWAT training necessary to carry a sub gun or sniper rifle and go on raids as part of the team.

Ask him to provide you with a list of former Costa Mesa team-mates and commanding officers of this team, and their contact information. Then call them directly and ask what he specifically did as a member of this team.

I'd also ask Wagner to sign a release form that will allow you to inquire of the Air Marshals, why he left this organization since there appears to be the allegation that he left on less then good terms.